TV THURSDAY

I don't know about you BUT I have a penchant for most "reality" tv shows (like Dear #Andy Cohen, I want to be a REAL housewife of small town USA - ya know - someone more relatable to "the people" SO if you happen to read this....call me) I heart all the Real Housewives of anywhere (I have my faves - Heather Thomson - NY, Kristen Taekman - NY, Teresa Guidice - NJ, Vicki Gunvalson - OC) Each of those women has a character trait I adore.....and I know reality tv isn't for everyone....

Heather - Hard worker, balls to the wall, says it like she feels it - SO refreshing in a world of dancing around to appease the masses

My homegirl Heather - HOLLA......

Kristen Taekman - NEW to the scene...."I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed BUT I'm pretty..." HER words in her intro...She's not afraid to call bullsh*t on you but wears her heart on her sleeve....this season you see her getting upset with her hubby who puts her and the fam on the back burner (I KNOW he's just tryin to support them BUT REALLY?!!??! all he has to do is send her a quick txt when he's running late). It's sad to see her crying for his attention - literally. 

Teresa Guidice - Really probably NO explanation needed WHO she is as she's been all over the news due to her an Joe's trial - the first episode broke my heart - you could FEEL the pain of the family...and by the end I was bawling (I won't spoil it for those that haven't seen it yet). She's italian which I ADORE, she's over the top which makes her a girl after my own heart and she get's out there and makes it happen - people were hatin for her comments in the cookbook foreward - hey people = DRAMA sells - she was makin shit happen!!

 Vicki Gunvaslon - This one kinda surprised me...BUT this season it's been nice to see her staying OUT of the drama. What I like most about her is her bad ass work ethic....she works A LOT (maybe too much when she was married - but now all she has is her work) and she's made a life for herself....KUDOS!!

We can all sit on our couches with our hand in the chip bag talkin junk about each and every reality tv show BUT the truth is all these people are raw and open to the world now (don't get me wrong - they exchange privacy for fame and pay-offs - I get it) BUT to have complete strangers talkin about your every move, hair outta place and extra pound gained CAN'T be easy!!! What's YOUR fave reality show?!??!

WHAT I WORE WEDNESDAY

It's INCREDIBLE!!! I STILL have internet!! Which means I can link up to WIWW with The Pleated Poppy http://thepleatedpoppy.com/category/what-i-wore/ Its fun to get new inspiration, see what y'all wore and identify the up and coming trends (everything I ever saw that rawked in fashion I saw on a blog!!). 

Channeling my inner animal

 What I'm wearing:
Necklace - Chico's
Leopard Shirt  - thrifted (almost went BACK to the thrift UNTITL I tried a belt - the belt defined my waist and gave a cute shirttail look)
Skirt - Shop n Swap
Sandals - Macy's

Inner Audrey Hepburn (pearls are a CLASSIC staple in my wardrobe)

 What I'm wearing:
Pearl Statement Necklace - Chico's
(can be taken apart and worn as 2 necklaces -1 long and 1 short)
Fringe Vest  - Chico's
Black Tank - Thrifted
Jeggings - Chico's
Sandals -Macy's

BEACH DAY aka No Make up and not a care in the world day

What I'm wearing:
Fedora - Dollar Tree - That's right y'all - Dollar Tree!!
"Tank" - T-shirt from Target that I cut all apart
Bikini - Target
Skirt / Swim Cover Up - Target

Back to work

What I am wearing:
Necklace - Chico's
Striped Sweater - Chico's
Boyfriend Style Jeans - Chico's
Sandals - Wal-Mart

A day in the life....

...snapshots via my iphone....

The dog sat in the hula hoop all by himself!! 

Trip to the ER...

After and EKG and drawing 4 vials of blood it's determined Stress and anxiety....imagine that....

My DELISH basil watermelon popsicles (got to yesterdays post for the recipe)

 Made my first EVER omelette....came out pretty decent....

My son's mind is SO INCREDIBLE...he built this lil lego guy based on a pic he saw in a magazine...from what he had on hand....

 A cute lil chick / duck thing.....

Spent my day off with my toes in the sand and drink in hand....

(a girl at the beach complimented my ankle bracelets and was particularly fond of the crystal one I had just made in the morning and asked if she could have it...I said sure, she says I was just kidding...she wouldn't accept it....as we were leaving I ran into her again and I handed it to her and told her I wanted her to have it...she was so excited and kept saying thank you....it was a really great moment for me....I made her day BUT moreover she MADE MY DAY)

After a day of sun and swim a hat was for sure in order!!

Made some old skool legit coffee....ran outta my "fancy creamer" so I had to go milk and brown sugar puerto rican coffee

FOODIE FRIDAY....Watermelon Basil popsicles

On my summer Bucket list is to make (cocktail) popsicles BUT I wanted to make a general public friendly version first....I picked up the fab popsicle molds from Dollar Tree (and "m sure y'all know the goblets from the Spritz line at Target....they have nothing to do with the popsicles BUT are pretty!!)

I had a few different ingredients on hand and searched for recipes with said ingredients (one was watermelon) and it was SO SIMPLE....the recipe is here http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/watermelon-chili-and-basil-ice-pops.html

You make a simple syrup 

Stir in the basil.....and let sit for at least a half hour....

Strain your simple syrup....blend watermelon chunks and simple syrup....

(I omitted the thai basil portion BECAUSE I didn't have that on hand HOWEVER I did use "Tajin" a mexican spice that's used on fresh fruits like mango and watermelon....after unmolding my popsicle I run under water quick and then sprinkle the seasoning on it....

These are SO DELISH I have eaten them every morning on the way to work!! It's fruit right?!??!

WHAT I WORE WEDNESDAY....Catch up

Seems like I play catch up a lot...guess that happens when your internet is down!! This last time they came out to fix it they promised this box is the mack daddy of al boxes and NEVER loses signal...TBD.

What I'm wearing:
Short Turquoise Necklace - Lane Bryant - 2009
Long Turquoise and Bead Necklace - Chico's 2013
Poncho - Chico's
Gold Glimmer Tank - Chico's
Boyfriend Style Jeans - Chico's 2012
Sandals - Macy's (via ebay)

It NEVER fails...every time I'm trying to take my WIWW pics the dog photo bombs!! He's cute, a good accessory!!

What I'm wearing:
Vest - Chaps for Ralph Lauren
Silk Leopard Tank - thrifted
Skirt - Thrifted  - I ADORE the lil kick pleat
Sandals - Macy's (I KNOW heels would be hotter BUT not practical when I'm on m feet for 8 hours)

What I'm wearing:
Coral Button Down - Chico's
(I typically don't like button downs because I feel like a line backer BUT this one is so soft and light I think that makes a difference)
Necklaces - Short Blue - Vintage, Coral Flower - Maurices, Long turquoise beads - vintage, long pearl - Lane Bryant - YES!!! I am wearing 4 necklaces - accessories are LEGIT y'all!!
Jeggings (Cuffed up) - Chico's
Sandals - Macy's

What I'm wearing:
Vest - Chico's (check out the below pic for the ADORBS crochet detail on the vest)
Necklace - Chico's
Tank - Chico's
Belt - Chico's 2012
Skirt - Chico's (currently on sale)
Sandals - Macy's

As I'm going through all these pics I am amused at how different my hair is day to day....

What I'm wearing:
Top - Vintage (every time I wear it I get a ton of compliments on it...oddly enough it reminds me of something my grandma wore in her younger years - but it's not like older mature lady style)
Red Jeans - Chico's 2012 (I was't sure I would wear these RED jeans very much - BUT I do RAWK them WAY MORE than I ever thought I would)

What I'm wearing:
Vest - Maurices
Tank - Chico's
Necklaces - Long - Vintage, Short (as pictured below) showing my HOMETOWN pride - an homage to my hometown Chi*town)
Crops - Chico's

4th of JULY

 What I'm wearing:
Hat - Polo Ralph Lauren -SUPES old like 2000 y'all
T-Shirt -Walmart 2012 (and my go-to 4th of July tee - as worn last year  also - what a difference a year makes)

My holiday pedi....inspired by pinterst and executed by my daughter the nail girl extraordinaire!!!

Linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy http://thepleatedpoppy.com/category/what-i-wore/ to see what y'all wore!! Saw something you liked?!!? Leave a comment - we all heart comment love!!

THRIFTY TUESDAY.....Christian Louboutin Boots

The title of the post is a total oxymoron!! Anyone familiar with the red soled beauties KNOWS there is no budget in CL. One of my girls at work jokingly sent me a pic of these boots....

and said if you were my daughter I'd buy these for you for Christmas.....to which I replied...."Willi you can adopt me" LOL!!! So if there's anyone interested in starting a Louboutin fund for these gorg boots....I wouldn't be opposed! LOL!! What's YOU dream accessory?!??!!

A DAY IN THE LIFE....

Snapshots via my iphone for the week....

Did some grilling(posted about it yesterday)

New succulent....that's already gotten a make-over (pics to follow soon)

Patriotic pedi courtesy of my daughter....

Showing my hometown pride....Chicago flag necklace....

My daughters patriotic nails....

Watermelon basil chile pops (recipe to follow this week)

Re-covered my patio chair cushions (my daughter gave them a new coat of paint a few weeks ago and it's taken me this long to get the seats done)

Local 4th of July fireworks....

Made s'mores while we waited for dusk (I brought a sterno can to toast the marshmallows)

My FAVE firework...every year I LOVE these...does anyone know what they're called?!?!